2022 November Chamber Horizons Newsletter

CHAMBER HORIZONS

Chamber of Commerce

38th Business & Industrial Appreciation Day event honored Ollie’s Service

Nearly 400 people gathered to celebrate the accomplish ments of Ollie’s Service at the Business & Industrial Appre ciation Day (BIAD) luncheon on Tuesday, October 25 at Ar rowwood Resort & Conference Center.

Ollie’s Service was chosen as the 2022 BIAD honoree by the Boards of Directors of the Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission and the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce based on impact on the job market, impact on the local economy, capital investment and community contributions.

Listen & Learn

Listen & Learn is a one-hour virtual event hosted by the Chamber. It offers information, education and resources on topics that impact the communi ty. Call 320-763-3161 or email info@alexandriamn. org for details. There is no charge for the event and it is open to the public.

Efficiency Pays...Really!

Exploring the thousands of reasons efficiency investments can pay

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17 FROM 11 AM - 12 PM Virtual event: Register at alexandriamn.org.

Investing in the efficiency and electrification of your home or business can have significant benefits! The Inflation Reduction Act benefits are available for new construction, remodeling, or updating equipment or transportation. Join us to review the Inflation Reduction Act incentives and gain tools to explore how you may benefit through tax incentives and upfront discounts available over the ten-year life of this legislation.

Members of the Ollie’s Service team

330070,

MN 56308.

Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

Alexandria, MN 56308

www.alexandriamn.org

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

award during

Arrowwood Resort

Conference Center.

Ryan Rooney, Energy Services & Business Development Manager, Runestone Electric Association

Keith Wieser, Tax Lead, CLA (Clifton LarsonAllen, LLP)

Ribbon Cuttings & Groundbreakings

Ribbon Cuttings and Groundbreakings are a service offered by the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. To learn more, email info@alexandriamn.org or call 320-763-3161.

Paffy’s Pest Control held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednes day, September 28 to celebrate its grand opening at 9046 Coun ty Rd. 28 in Alexandria. It is a professional pest management company that facilitates pest control for commercial, residential, and multi housing locations.

Alomere Health held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, September 30 to celebrate the construction of a new outpatient rehabilitation center. The new facility is part of a plan and com mitment to significantly expand rehabilitation services.

Ribbon Cuttings and Groundbreakings

USPS Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation

YOU CAN BANK ON US.

Football and banking have a lot in common, like experienced coaching and trust. First Western is a locally owned, community bank — trusted for over 50 years. We are your friends and neighbors, people you can count on, providing local decision making.

Wake Up Alexandria

Wake Up Alexandria is a networking event held the first and third Friday of each month from 7:30 to 8:30 am at a Chamber member location. A dollar gets you in the door, with all proceeds donated to a 501(c)3 nonprofit Chamber member.

October Hosts

Bell Bank | October 7

1001 Broadway St.

Nonprofit of the Day: VFW 936 Alexandria

Bell Bank is the largest family-and employee-owned bank in the upper Midwest and one of the largest in the nation, with assets of more than $10 billion. It has numerous divisions, including Wealth Management, Institutional Investment Management, Mortgage, Insurance, Capital Finance, Equip ment Finance, HealthcareBank and Discovery Benefits.

Pot of Gold Winner

The Chamber celebrated a Pot of Gold winner at Wake Up Alexandria hosted by The Filament on October 21!

Lakewood Terrace won the Pot valued at $5,947. Pot of Gold donations include discounted services, gift certificates, and promotional items. Sponsoring businesses are promoted through Chamber email blasts, at the event, and on the Chamber website. All members are included in the drawing; a representative of the business drawn must be present to win.

Todd Emmons of Lakewood Terrace accepted the Pot of Gold prizes on be half of the business at the October 21 Wake Up Alexan dria. The pot was valued at $5,947!

The Filament | October 21

316 Broadway St., Ste. 4-9

Nonprofit of the Day: Douglas County Developmental Achievement Center (DAC)

The Filament is a modern industrial-style office space located in downtown Alexandria with an emphasis on collaboration and community. Common workspaces may be reserved for events, including kitchen and lounge spaces. It offers reserved customer/client parking spots and tenant signage on the building, fast fiber optic internet, fob entrance, and more.

Upcoming Chamber Events

Wake Up Alexandria! Friday, November 4 from 7:30-8:30 am Hampton Inn & Suites and Broadway Ballroom Broadway Ballroom - 115 30th Ave. E Nonprofit of the Day: NorthStar Christian Academy

Ribbon Cutting: Discovery Middle School Tuesday, November 15 at 4 pm Discovery Middle School | 510 McKay Ave. N

Listen & Learn (Details page 1)

Featuring Ryan Rooney, Runestone Electric Association and Keith Wieser with CliftonLarsonAllen Thursday, November 17 from 11 am - 12 pm Alexandria Chamber - Virtual Event | Register at alexandriamn.org

Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, November 18 from 7:30-8:30 am Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County ReStore 1211 N Nokomis St. NE Nonprofit of the Day: West Central Initiative

Membership Team

Volunteers on the Membership Team visit new member businesses to welcome them to the Chamber. They also serve as liaisons, supporting new members with introductions, information, and education on membership benefits.

November Visits

Bee Authentic Marketing is a new marketing company owned by Sara Stadtherr. Sara offers marketing services to businesses of various in dustries including insurance, finance, farming, and more.

Ida Graves Distillery is owned and operated by Brock Berglund. Brock makes sin gle-batch spirits from organic, locally sourced ingredients. Ida Graves can be found in liquor stores, restaurants, and bars in 10 states.

West Central Technol ogy is a technology support company based out of Willmar, MN. It offers support to businesses of all siz es in Minnesota and surrounding states. West Central Tech nology specializes in set up, performance, backup and recovery, and cyber security.

Membership Directory

The annual Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce print directory will be distributed in January 2023 with all current Chamber member information. We need your help to ensure your information is accurate! Each member was sent an email to review your information and submit changes through the portal. If you are unable to submit changes online, please contact the Chamber to receive a form. Additional paid advertising opportuni ties are also available in the print directory!

Contact the Chamber staff at 320-763-3161 or info@ alexandriamn.org with questions.

You just want to be home and have somebody take care of you, and Knute Hospice did. knutenelson.org | 320.288.1334

- Dave Peters, former Knute Nelson Hospice Patient

Bee Authentic Marketing

Sara Stadtherr, Owner

Ida Graves Distillery Brock Berglund, Owner

West Central Technology

Jill Shaw, Marketing Manager; Allen Hillstrom, COO; Stacy Anderson, Client Advisor, Jeff Jensen, Client Development

Ambassadors

The Ambassadors are volunteers who extend the public relations arm of the Chamber. They attend business open houses, groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings; welcome new businesses to the area; and commemorate relocations and major remodels. They are out

visits the second Wednesday of every month.

November Visits

Dan Tilberg is the owner of Central Ebikes located at 403 Broadway St., same building as Viking Gun & Pawn also owned by Dan. The Ebikes are available for purchase or can be rented by the half or full day. Adult electric bikes are available as well as kids style

Kalon Medical Spa is located at 2600 Jefferson St. in Alex andria, part of Vance Thomp son Vision. Its products and services are inclusive and range from natural health and wellness treatments to medi cal-grade skin care.

Duininck Concrete recently acquired Alexandria Con crete. It offers aggregates, ready mix, construction supply products, and pumping services for both commercial and residential proj ects.

Alomere

Instead of masking the pain with opioid painkillers, physical therapy helps you address the root of the problem, so you can get back to doing the things you love. AlomereHealth.com

Kalon Medical Spa - New Business Shawnda Geiselhart, Director

Duininck Concrete - Business Acquisition Shane Korsmo, Plant Manager; Amy Berskow, Controller; Edward Peterson, Integrated Sales North; Todd Freier, Area Northern Manager; Nate Skindelien, Director of Sales/Marketing; Stacy Sweep, Duininck construction Supply Division Manager

Central Ebikes - New Business

Dan Tilberg, Owner

SunOpta held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, Oc tober 3 at the site of its new 252,000-square-foot warehouse located at 3455 34th Ave. W in Alexandria. The $25 million warehouse is expected to help with the production of oat milk, a product that has grown in demand over the last few years.

BEE Well Clinic held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 6 to celebrate its new location at 510 22nd Ave. E, Ste. 202A in Alexandria. The clinic offers a modern holistic ap proach with a focus on health care prevention and wellness. It is owned by family nurse practitioner Dr. Donna Piotter.

Alexandria Public Schools Early Education Center celebrated a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, October 11 for its new addition featuring Shenanigans Indoor Playground and new classroom learning spaces for early learners. The space also offers a kitchenette area, party rooms for birthday rentals, and a climbing wall coming this winter.

Buzz

Zimny Insurance Agency is part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America “Best Prac tices” Study Group. The agencies comprising the study groups are selected every third year through a comprehensive nomination and qualifying process and awarded a “Best Practices Agency” designation.

Anje Smith joins the CYBERsprout team with an entrepreneurial mindset after spending upwards of 21 years in a corporate setting and six years owning/operating two small businesses. Anje is a sales advocate for future CYBERsprout customers and will begin to arrange CYBERsprout marketing campaigns.

Marv Martinson is celebrating 60 years in business as Martinson Insurance Agency. With the slogan “Serving you since ‘62”, Marv continues to serve clients alongside sons Calvin and Keith who also work at the agency. Marv is a past Alexandria Chamber Board President and longtime Runestone Museum Foundation board member.

JLG Architects was presented with three of the five 2022 design awards at the Annual Convention of the North Dakota Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) on October 18. Rec ognition included an Honor Award for White Bear Lake Sports Center, a Merit Award for the Grand Forks Cities Area Transit Center, and a Merit Award for Dakota State University Cyber Lab.

On October 12, Dr. Brent Kramer became the first surgeon to perform a partial thickness corneal transplant (DMEK) in Alex andria, MN. Dr. Kramer is with Vance Thompson Vision (VTV). Dr. Deborah Gess Ristvedt and Dr. Timothy Gess, also with VTV joined Dr. Kramer in the operating room for this milestone.

To include your business news in the Chamber Horizon Newsletter, email information to Lauren at marketing@alexandriamn.org.